Twin Toilets In Sochi: Some Wonder Why That's A Big Deal

The loo for two in Sochi: BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg snapped this picture in the men's room at the cross-country skiing and biathlon center.

AP

Originally published on January 24, 2014 10:54 am

Have you seen the "twin toilets" photo that's been swirling round the Internet the past couple of days?

BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg's snapshot of the side-by-side thrones he came upon at the cross-country skiing and biathlon center in Sochi has been the subject of much fun on Twitter and the object of some ridicule from those who wonder where the $50 billion or so that Russia has spent on preparing for next month's Winter Olympics is going.

Perhaps much of the money has gone down the ... insert your favorite euphemism here?

But as The Associated Press writes:

"Although toilets like that are not common in Russia, social media users posted photos of other side-by-side toilets, including ones in a courthouse and a cafe. The editor of the state R-Sport news agency said such communal toilets are standard at Russian soccer stadiums."

" 'Why are the BBC folks scaring us?' Vasily Konov wrote in this personal Twitter account. 'This is what the gents look like at football stadiums in Russia.' "